Still, it was after a first round state playoff win against Columbia that those Spartans could literally feel validation. There, they truly understood the community-wide impact they have made.

There at Williamsport’s Magic Dome, they were treated like celebrities. And, in the eyes of so many aspiring, young Hughesville players’ eyes, their older friends are larger than life. Those future Spartans had the varsity players sign autographs following the game, grabbing shirts or whatever was available.

This is a team backed by an army of supporters and, for the players, that means just about as much as the championships.

“Even the little kids are coming up to us and I signed someone’s shirt the other day. That meant so much to me as a player,” forward Vivian Draper said following a 42-30 second round win Tuesday against Notre Dame-Green Pond. “It’s so big for me; for confidence. I’m growing confidence in the team game by game.”

Kylie Temple of Hughesville is knocked to the ground as she’s fouled by Ava Shonk of Notre Dame-Green Pond at Berwick High School. Hughesville won 42-30. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Whether it’s the youngest fans or the oldest bringing the noise, Hughesville players and coaches sure feel the love. That likely will be the case again tonight when the Spartans (26-3) face Dunmore in the state quarterfinals at Wilkes-Barre High School.

Wherever it goes, this team attracts a passionate following. The students filled up a large section of the cavernous bleachers at Berwick Tuesday and, together, with the other Green and Black-clad fans, made it feel like a Spartan home game. The student section long has been one District 4’s largest and most boisterous, following the team no matter how far the destination.

It was the same way with students and the town’s residents at Williamsport in the first round. And at Montoursville for the district final … the semifinals at Milton.

You get the idea.

This community truly loves its girls’ basketball team.

Maddie Smith of Hughesville puts up a shot against Notre Dame-Green Pond at Berwick High School. Hughesville won 42-30. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It’s amazing. I love looking out and just seeing an ocean of Green up there,” Draper said. “All the support and love we get is great.”

There is no statistic which can reveal the impact that support has. Still, from the players’ perspective, it is invaluable. This is a team which plays a relentless brand of basketball, going all-out, all the time. If one needs an energy boost, she can just look toward the stands.

Yes, the game so often comes down to who executes better and likely will again tonight. But it certainly helps having fans who are eager to provide any lift they can, no matter the situation. That is something tangible, something the players feel and that makes it mighty important.

“We always talk about how well our fans travel for us,” guard Maddie Smith said Tuesday. “Making a layup or making a 3-pointer or seeing my teammates do something and looking around and seeing we have this fan base around us, helps us big time. I’m so thankful for all of Hughesville, honestly.”

This is not a recent fad either. These are not bandwagon hoppers. Other area teams who have made deep state runs often have played before sparse crowds during the regular season before many latched on once they noticed how far the team was going.

Maddie Smith of Hughesville steals the ball and pushed up the court against Notre Dame-Green Pond at Berwick High School. Hughesville won 42-30. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Not Hughesville’s fans. They hopped on this train long ago. They made sure it moved full steam ahead from the first game last November 29 against Dallas. And really, they have been there with the Spartans throughout all of these last three seasons in which they have made history each year, while winning 73 games.

“They follow us very well,” Smith said. “We feed off their energy. In front of a big crowd, we feed off that energy and that helps us out a lot.”

Look at last January’s game at Loyalsock. There, the defending state champions built an an early 15-point lead and threatened to run Hughesville out of the gym. But instead of Maroon and White, the gym was filled with Green and White, turning Ron Insinger Court into the Spartan Dome.

Players did not doubt they could come back and neither did the fans. The Spartans kept playing hard, fans kept roaring and Hughesville stormed back, dominating the final three quarters and winning, 48-37. It was a similar scene at Montoursville late last month when Hughesville fought back from a six-point deficit and rallied past Loyalsock, 45-38 to win its second district championship in three years.

Players win the games, but every bit of energy helps and fans have given Hughesville some huge jolts at crucial times.

Hughesville is bringing multiple fan buses for a second straight game tonight. Filling them rarely is a problem. Fans often arrive early and make sure the players know they are there, as soon as they come out for pregame warm-ups.

Often, as much as wins and championships, athletes search for validation. This team has relentlessly worked pretty much since the previous season ended. So, have the coaches. Fighting through injuries, illnesses and demanding opponents, Hughesville has fought on.

The Spartans hearing that thunderous applause lets them know how appreciated they are. It’s not just because they win either, but also because of how they play.

Win or lose, the community wraps its collective arms around this basketball team. Players know that whatever happens, they are appreciated. It was a similar story in the late 2000s and early 2010s when the boys team was putting Hughesville on the statewide map.

In a scene out of Hoosiers, a caravan of cars often followed the team bus. Small town, big love and it brings back another Hoosiers memory. Just replace the sign fans put on the barn in that movie with the phrase, “We’re the Hughesville Spartans and we couldn’t be prouder.”

“We’re not a huge town but we fill up big gyms,” Smith said. “We always seem to fill them up.”

Many teams only dream about receiving the kind of support Hughesville has and does. But the community has brought this movie to life.

The players take starring roles but what a motion picture they and the town are producing. They also are building a bridge to the future, inspiring so many who will one day don the varsity uniforms and try emulating their heroes. What an example they have set.

And so, the cars are gassed up again; the voices ready to go.

Lights, camera … action.

“The support our community gives us is incredible,” Hughesville coach Dustin King said. “It feels like the whole town is there for us. We can’t thank them enough.”

And the community can not thank this basketball team enough.